The Underrated Vibes
A Great Escape Awaits at Rochester’s Coolest Tiki Bar
From elevated rum-based cocktails to a curated selection of dishes with Caribbean, Chinese, African, and Pacific Island-inspired flavors, Easy Sailor is shifting the way Rochesterians and visitors alike experience a night out in the city. A visit to this sensational tiki bar will undoubtedly involve some sparks and flames, a dash of lively energy, and be full of flavor and exciting memories. For those who take the voyage, a great escape awaits.
Relax at this Posh New Coffee Shop and Cocktail Lounge in Syracuse
Pausa is a small escape when traveling through Syracuse. In a way, it is a portal to a relaxing time, alluring and full of elegance. This is truly a lounge where locals are spending time out with friends, and savoring the moment. If you find yourself in need of an espresso or just want a cool lounge to hang out at with a nice craft cocktail, Pause Coffee is the place to be.
An Authentic Nepali-Indian Restaurant Brings Abundant Flavor to State Street
Today, a new spark of life has ignited on State Street in the form of a restaurant serving a well-curated, dynamic, and flavorful Nepalese and Indian menu that not only enriches the city’s taste but also expands the cultural wealth of a diverse and historic neighborhood.
Tiki Pedro’s Delivers a Modern Take on Cuban-Mexican Cuisine
Recently, a newish pop-up eatery that fuses Mexican and Cuban recipes has opened its kitchen on East Avenue inside one of Downtown Rochester’s most creative cocktail lounges, Aqua Vitae. Tiki Pedro’s menu offers a Cuban and Northeast take on traditional Mexican dishes, including tacos and burritos, foods with origins in Northern Mexico.
The Salt City Market is a Promise of a Better Tomorrow
Deep in the heart of downtown Syracuse, where South Salina meets West Onondaga, is a great food hall that combines the diverse and rich delicacies of Syracuse’s numerous cultural identities under one bazaar-style marketplace. The Salt City Market is a transformative community space that provides sustenance in the form of food and beverages, affordable housing, a coffee shop and bar, a cooperative grocery store, and the promise of a better tomorrow.
Happiness is a Warm Hand Pie from Crust Pie Co.
The Crust Pie Co. origin story is another tale as sweet as pie, involving Rebecca Vang’s leap from the marketing world to embarking on the dream of owning a small business. With every recipe created by Crust Pie Co., bliss permeates through the threshold of a flaky crust. It is a place where happiness can be gently held in a savory and warm Banh Mi hand pie.
Fool’s Gold Saloon in Downtown Rochester Pays Tribute to the Old Wild West
Formerly occupied by Masons on Alexander, a new western-themed bar Fool’s Gold Saloon, has reimagined the space with a makeover from a classic dive bar to a watering hole that pays tribute to the old Wild West.
A Far-Out Pastry Shop in Downtown Roc is Conjuring Up Extraordinary Confections
Opening their doors on June 28, 2025, the owners and pastry chefs at Pastrymancer began conjuring up some of the most uniquely creative pastries imaginable in Downtown Roc. Their confections are daring and bold, at times rough around the edges, but uniquely experimental, made with ingenuity, and designed to send your taste buds on an unparalleled adventure.
Blushed Cakery’s Artistic Mini Cakes are Handmade with Love
Blushed Cakery’s customizable flavors range from chocolate to strawberry, vanilla, and lemon, and are decorated with floral and vintage designs, and can be topped with fresh fruits, ribbons, and chocolate butterflies. All of which are delightfully crafted and yes, edible. The artist behind Blushed Cakery, Halle Flan, shares the belief that celebrations and special moments call for cake.
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